GAME DAY PARKING FINES TO DOUBLEVisitors warned of parking plan; urged to take public transportation to games

Berkeley, California (Friday, August 31, 2007) - In anticipation of high attendance at University of California Berkeley football games this year, the City, the university and neighbors have spent several months working on a pilot plan for parking in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to the university.

“We’re already a busy urban area, so the best way to get to games will always be public transportation,” said Jim Hynes, Assistant to the City Manager. “But we’ve worked out a parking and transportation plan that we hope will allow residents reasonable access to their neighborhoods and will also accommodate game day traffic.”

The university will split the cost of special electronic traffic signs with the City, as well as paying for the entire season’s post-game clean-ups. The post-game clean-ups were tested in a pilot project last year and found to be successful.

On game days, residents and visitors can expect:

Doubled parking fees in residential parking permit areas A, B and D;

Shuttles between the BART station and Cal Memorial Stadium;

Clear signs alerting drivers to parking zones and penalties;

The first game of the season is Saturday, September 1. After this game, the City and the university will evaluate the pilot program and possibly revise it.